83 FR 40357 - Uranium One; Ludeman Satellite

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 157 (August 14, 2018)

Page Range		40357-40358
FR Document		2018-17458

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering an amendment of License SUA-1341, to expand operations to the Ludeman Satellite at Uranium One's Willow Creek In-situ recovery (ISR) facility (Docket No. 40-8502). The NRC has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for this licensing action.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40357-40358]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17458]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 40-8502; NRC-2012-0120]


Uranium One; Ludeman Satellite

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; 
issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering an 
amendment of License SUA-1341, to expand operations to the Ludeman 
Satellite at Uranium One's Willow Creek In-situ recovery (ISR) facility 
(Docket No. 40-8502). The NRC has prepared an environmental assessment 
(EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for this licensing 
action.

DATES: The environmental assessment referenced in this document is 
available on August 14, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0120 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may obtain publicly-available information related to this document 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0120. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301-287-
9127; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS 
Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public 
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or 
by email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number for each 
document referenced in this document (if that document is available in 
ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Waldron, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7317; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment of License No. SUA-
1341, issued to Uranium One, for operation of the Ludeman Satellite, 
located in Wyoming, Converse County. Therefore, as required by part 51 
of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), the NRC 
performed an environmental assessment. Based on the results of the 
environmental assessment, the NRC has determined not to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for the amendment, and is issuing a 
finding of no significant impact.

II. Environmental Assessment

Description of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would allow Uranium One to construct, operate, 
perform aquifer restoration, and decommissioning activities at the 
Ludeman Satellite. The proposed action is in accordance with the 
licensee's application dated December 3, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML120120182).

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action allows Uranium One to recover uranium within 
the proposed Ludeman Satellite. The licensee would process the 
recovered uranium into yellowcake at the existing central processing 
plant (CPP) currently

[[Page 40358]]

located on the Willow Creek Irigaray site. Yellowcake is the uranium 
oxide product of the ISR milling process that is used to produce 
various products, including fuel for commercially-operated nuclear 
power reactors.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC staff has assessed the potential environmental impacts from 
the construction, operation, aquifer restoration, and decommissioning 
of the proposed Ludeman Satellite. The NRC staff assessed the impacts 
of the proposed action on land use; historical and cultural resources; 
visual and scenic resources; climatology, meteorology and air quality; 
geology, minerals, and soils; water resources; ecological resources; 
socioeconomics; noise; traffic and transportation; public and 
occupational health and safety; and waste management. All impacts were 
determined to be SMALL. The NRC staff concluded that license amendment 
for the Willow Creek ISR project license authorizing the construction 
and operation of the Ludeman Satellite would not significantly affect 
the quality of the human environment. Approval of the proposed action 
would not result in an increased radiological risk to public health or 
the environment.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). 
The no-action alternative would mean that the NRC would not approve the 
addition of the Ludeman Satellite to the existing Willow Creek ISR 
licensed permit area. In-situ uranium recovery would not occur within 
the Ludeman Satellite and the associated environmental impacts also 
would not occur.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on January 18, 2018, the NRC 
staff consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regarding 
the proposed action. The FWS stated that no federally listed or 
proposed endangered or threatened species occur within the area 
affected by the proposed action. On February 27, 2018, the staff 
consulted with Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ), 
regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The WDEQ 
provided comments on the draft EA. Those comments were considered in 
preparation of the final EA and FONSI. On July 17, 2018, the Wyoming 
State Historic Preservation Office notified NRC that it concurred with 
its determinations of no effect at the Ludeman project.

Additional Information

    The NRC staff conducted an environmental review in accordance with 
10 CFR part 51, which implements the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). The results of the 
NRC's environmental review can be found in the final EA (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML18183A225). Based on the results of the environmental 
assessment, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental 
impact statement for the Ludeman Satellite amendment and is issuing a 
finding of no significant impact.
    In May 2009, the NRC staff issued NUREG-1910, ``Generic 
Environmental Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach Uranium Milling 
Facilities'' (herein referred to as the GEIS). In the GEIS, the NRC 
assessed the potential environmental impacts from construction, 
operation, aquifer restoration, and decommissioning of an in-situ leach 
uranium milling facility (also known as an ISR facility) located in 
four specific geographic regions of the western United States. Where 
applicable, this EA incorporates by reference relevant portions from 
the GEIS, and uses site-specific information from Uranium One's license 
application and independent sources to fulfill the requirements in 10 
CFR 51.20(b)(8).
    The final EA was prepared by the NRC and its contractor, the Center 
for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, in compliance with NEPA (as 
amended, and the NRC's regulations for implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 
51).
    In the final EA, the NRC staff assessed the potential environmental 
impacts from the construction, operation, aquifer restoration, and 
decommissioning of the proposed Ludeman Satellite. The NRC staff 
assessed the impacts of the proposed action on land use; historical and 
cultural resources; visual and scenic resources; climatology, 
meteorology and air quality; geology, minerals, and soils; water 
resources; ecological resources; socioeconomics; noise; traffic and 
transportation; public and occupational health and safety; and waste 
management.
    After weighing the impacts of the proposed license amendment and 
comparing to the no-action alternative, the NRC staff, in accordance 
with 10 CFR 51.91(d), sets forth its NEPA recommendation regarding the 
proposed action (granting the request for an NRC license amendment for 
the proposed Ludeman Satellite). Unless safety issues mandate 
otherwise, the NRC staff recommendation related to the environmental 
aspects of the proposed action is that an NRC license amendment be 
issued.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based on its review of the proposed action, and in accordance with 
the requirements in 10 CFR part 51, the NRC staff has determined that 
license amendment for the Willow Creek ISR project license authorizing 
the construction and operation of the Ludeman Satellite would not 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment. In its 
license amendment request, Uranium One has proposed the addition of six 
wellfields at the Ludeman Satellite. No other significant changes in 
Uranium One's authorized operations for the Willow Creek ISR Project 
were requested. Approval of the proposed action would not result in an 
increased radiological risk to public health or the environment. The 
NRC staff has determined that pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, preparation of 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required for the 
proposed action and, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, a finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) is appropriate.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of August, 2018.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Craig G. Erlanger,
Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety, Safeguards, and Environmental 
Review, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2018-17458 Filed 8-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

40358 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices

located on the Willow Creek Irigaray NRC that it concurred with its mandate otherwise, the NRC staff
site. Yellowcake is the uranium oxide determinations of no effect at the recommendation related to the
product of the ISR milling process that Ludeman project. environmental aspects of the proposed
is used to produce various products, action is that an NRC license
Additional Information
including fuel for commercially- amendment be issued.
operated nuclear power reactors. The NRC staff conducted an
environmental review in accordance III. Finding of No Significant Impact
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed with 10 CFR part 51, which implements Based on its review of the proposed
Action the requirements of the National action, and in accordance with the
The NRC staff has assessed the Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as requirements in 10 CFR part 51, the
potential environmental impacts from amended (NEPA). The results of the NRC staff has determined that license
the construction, operation, aquifer NRC’s environmental review can be amendment for the Willow Creek ISR
restoration, and decommissioning of the found in the final EA (ADAMS project license authorizing the
proposed Ludeman Satellite. The NRC Accession No. ML18183A225). Based on construction and operation of the
staff assessed the impacts of the the results of the environmental Ludeman Satellite would not
proposed action on land use; historical assessment, the NRC has determined not significantly affect the quality of the
and cultural resources; visual and to prepare an environmental impact human environment. In its license
scenic resources; climatology, statement for the Ludeman Satellite amendment request, Uranium One has
meteorology and air quality; geology, amendment and is issuing a finding of proposed the addition of six wellfields
minerals, and soils; water resources; no significant impact. at the Ludeman Satellite. No other
ecological resources; socioeconomics; In May 2009, the NRC staff issued significant changes in Uranium One’s
noise; traffic and transportation; public NUREG–1910, ‘‘Generic Environmental authorized operations for the Willow
and occupational health and safety; and Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach Creek ISR Project were requested.
waste management. All impacts were Uranium Milling Facilities’’ (herein Approval of the proposed action would
determined to be SMALL. The NRC staff referred to as the GEIS). In the GEIS, the not result in an increased radiological
concluded that license amendment for NRC assessed the potential risk to public health or the environment.
the Willow Creek ISR project license environmental impacts from The NRC staff has determined that
authorizing the construction and construction, operation, aquifer pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, preparation
operation of the Ludeman Satellite restoration, and decommissioning of an of an environmental impact statement
would not significantly affect the in-situ leach uranium milling facility (EIS) is not required for the proposed
quality of the human environment. (also known as an ISR facility) located action and, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, a
Approval of the proposed action would in four specific geographic regions of finding of no significant impact (FONSI)
not result in an increased radiological the western United States. Where
is appropriate.
risk to public health or the environment. applicable, this EA incorporates by
reference relevant portions from the Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day
Environmental Impacts of the GEIS, and uses site-specific information of August, 2018.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action from Uranium One’s license application For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
As an alternative to the proposed and independent sources to fulfill the Craig G. Erlanger,
action, the staff considered denial of the requirements in 10 CFR 51.20(b)(8). Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety,
proposed action (i.e., the ‘‘no-action’’ The final EA was prepared by the Safeguards, and Environmental Review,
alternative). The no-action alternative NRC and its contractor, the Center for Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
would mean that the NRC would not Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, in Safeguards.
approve the addition of the Ludeman compliance with NEPA (as amended, [FR Doc. 2018–17458 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am]
Satellite to the existing Willow Creek and the NRC’s regulations for BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
ISR licensed permit area. In-situ implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 51).
uranium recovery would not occur In the final EA, the NRC staff assessed
within the Ludeman Satellite and the the potential environmental impacts NUCLEAR REGULATORY
associated environmental impacts also from the construction, operation, aquifer COMMISSION
would not occur. restoration, and decommissioning of the [NRC–2017–0218]
proposed Ludeman Satellite. The NRC
Agencies and Persons Consulted staff assessed the impacts of the Information Collection: Physical
In accordance with its stated policy, proposed action on land use; historical Protection of Plants and Materials
on January 18, 2018, the NRC staff and cultural resources; visual and
consulted with the U.S. Fish and scenic resources; climatology, AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
Wildlife Service (FWS) regarding the meteorology and air quality; geology, Commission.
proposed action. The FWS stated that minerals, and soils; water resources; ACTION: Notice of submission to the
no federally listed or proposed ecological resources; socioeconomics; Office of Management and Budget;
endangered or threatened species occur noise; traffic and transportation; public request for comment.
within the area affected by the proposed and occupational health and safety; and
action. On February 27, 2018, the staff waste management. SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
consulted with Wyoming Department of After weighing the impacts of the Commission (NRC) has recently
Environmental Quality (WDEQ), proposed license amendment and submitted a request for renewal of an
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

regarding the environmental impact of comparing to the no-action alternative, existing collection of information to the
the proposed action. The WDEQ the NRC staff, in accordance with 10 Office of Management and Budget
provided comments on the draft EA. CFR 51.91(d), sets forth its NEPA (OMB) for review. The information
Those comments were considered in recommendation regarding the proposed collection is titled, ‘‘Physical Protection
preparation of the final EA and FONSI. action (granting the request for an NRC of Plants and Materials.’’
On July 17, 2018, the Wyoming State license amendment for the proposed DATES: Submit comments by September
Historic Preservation Office notified Ludeman Satellite). Unless safety issues 13, 2018.

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Document Created: 2018-08-14 02:19:12
Document Modified: 2018-08-14 02:19:12

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance.
Dates		The environmental assessment referenced in this document is available on August 14, 2018.
Contact		Ashley Waldron, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7317; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 40357